Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

MARLOW

I stood in front of the mirror as I adjusted the scarf around my neck. It was a cool morning, with fall rolling in fast, promising to bring winter right behind it. I did love dressing for fall. Any woman that carried an extra layer of cushion in the butt and belly loved the excuse to wear flattering sweaters and boots that made our legs look just a little longer.

I pulled off the scarf and scanned the closet for something else. I pulled my favorite knitted cream-colored sweater with a cowl neck off the rack. I usually saved it for colder weather, but I needed to feel good. I needed to know I looked good. I put on a pretty pink blouse underneath just in case I got warm during the day, then paired the sweater with dark-wash jeans and knee-high brown boots.

This was my armor, and I was going into battle. After a quick glance at the mirror again, satisfied with my choice of wardrobe, I grabbed my bag and made my way to the kitchen.

I pulled out my Stanley from the cupboard along with the expensive coffee beans I spoiled myself with. I poured them into my coffee grinder. The aroma of deep cocoa and hints of caramel filled the air as the grinder worked. I add a generous scoop into my French press and poured boiling water over it. With a few quick stirs, I leaned down and inhaled. The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water in anticipation. I poured it into my to-go cup, added some creamer, and put the lid on.

Yes, I could get coffee at work, but today was not that kind of day. I found myself full of doubt about whether I should have taken the job. What started off on a high after the night at the gala had soured into a working relationship with Spencer that had me walking on eggshells. He was grumpy all the time, quick to anger, and impatient. He wanted things done immediately, and if they weren't, he took over, bulldozing me or anyone he thought was in his way. I'd tried to talk to some of the guys about him, but it seemed to be a no-fly zone territory amongst the group, and I couldn't figure out why.

Everyone in the office felt his stress. Unfortunately, no one knew why he was so stressed. From where I was standing, the guy had a good life. He didn't have to worry about money. He was very successful. He had looks. But he walked around acting like he had the worst life in the world.

Part of me wondered if it was me. He chased me and begged me to work for him. I wondered if he changed his mind. I wished he would just tell me. I might be able to get my old office back. I was so confused about the man I'd been working with the last couple of weeks. He was not the same guy I met in Stone Ridge. He rarely smiled let alone laughed or joked around.

The guy needed a vacation. And I was going to tell him so if he growled at me again today. Either he went on vacation or got surgery to have the stick removed from his ass.

I shook the thoughts from my head as I grabbed my keys off the kitchen counter and moved toward the door. The city was already hustling when I walked out of the lobby. The morning chill making me wish I would have worn the scarf. The faint echo of car horns and the distant hum of chatter filled the quiet morning air.

My steps were brisk as I made my way to my car; glad my parents were able to drive it down and return with Rhett's truck recently. I got in and blasted the heater. As I drove, I tried to think of something to say to Spencer that might make him happy. At least a smile. I wasn't used to people being so grumpy around me. Something was obviously up with Spencer. He wasn't the guy Rhett grew up with.

The blare of a horn pulled me from my thoughts. I hit the gas and started driving again. The office building's glass fa?ade gleamed in the morning sunlight. I parked and joined the moving crowd on the sidewalk. People in business attire bustled in and out of the revolving doors while taxis zoomed by and people talked on their phones. Most of them were carrying coffees and briefcases. I pushed the door and stepped inside the lobby that I had become very familiar with.

The smell of coffee and donuts and spicy burritos filled the air. Men in business suits were already wheeling and dealing. I could only imagine the total net worth in this lobby at that very minute. These were the movers and shakers. Lawyers, money managers, advertising gurus, tech wizards. They all maneuvered their way through the lobby. These were the people I had to impress daily. And most importantly, somewhere amidst them all was Spencer. Part of me wondered if I wasn't living up to the hype. Maybe that was why he was pissed. I wasn't sure what he was expecting from me. Did he think I was going to come in and wave a magic wand?

I strode across the expansive, marble-floored lobby and headed toward the elevator doors. The image of my reflection in the polished chrome doors surrounded by the others all waiting to get into the elevator was surreal. I still couldn't believe I was a part of this corporate chaos.

The doors opened to an empty car. We shuffled in, packing together like sardines. The moment the doors slid closed, the combination of strong coffee, perfume, and expensive cologne was a little overwhelming. One by one, people got off the elevator, removing some of the clashing scents. Finally, I arrived at my floor and stepped out.

I took a deep breath, nodding at the now familiar faces as I moved toward my office. Kyla was already there, sitting at her desk with her fingers flying over the keyboard of her laptop. "Good morning."

"Good morning," I said, smiling.

"You look nice," she said. "Hello, fall!"

I had to laugh. "You know I love my comfy sweaters."

"Who doesn't?" Kyla followed me into my office.

I put my Stanley on the desk and walked around to get settled.

"I sent your schedule for the day to your calendar," she said.

I nodded. "Great."

"Is everything okay?" she asked quietly.

I sighed. "I don't know. Do you think we made a mistake coming here?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I just feel like we're not settling in," I told her.

"You're referring to Spencer."

"Yes," I admitted, dropping into my swivel chair and pinching the bridge of my nose. "He's just different from what I expected. From the guy I grew up with."

Kyla pursed her lips, glancing at the door as if expecting him to appear at any moment. "He's under a lot of pressure," she said finally.

"But aren't we all?" I countered. "We're all in this business. He knew this when he asked us to join him."

Kyla shrugged. "Maybe he's going through something personal," she suggested. The phone on her desk rang. "I better get that. Do you need anything?"

"Nope," I said. "I'm good."

The morning flew by. I didn't see Spencer all morning except for once when he walked by. Later, I noticed his office door was closed. He was completely cut off from the rest of the office, which was kind of sad.

I stared out the window of my office that afternoon, thinking about Spencer when I should have been reviewing the new designs Joshua sent over. I couldn't get Spencer out of my head. He was wildly successful in business, a billionaire for crying out loud. He had achieved the kind of success the rest of us could only dream about. I didn't know if I needed to be a billionaire to feel successful, but it wouldn't hurt.

He lived in what I was convinced was the best city on the planet. He had a close, supportive, good-to-their-core group of friends. Why couldn't he stand back and see that?

"There must be something I'm missing," I thought aloud.

I considered calling Rhett and asking if he knew anything. They were friends. Maybe Spencer had been talking to Rhett. My brother didn't need to give me details, but if he could just give me a hint, that would be nice.

There was a knock on my door. I turned to find Kyla standing in the doorway with a worried look on her face. Normally, she would come right in. The fact she hadn't told me something was wrong. Maybe we'd been fired, and I no longer needed to worry about Spencer's shitty mood.

"What?" I asked, my stomach sinking. "What happened?"

Kyla's lips pressed into a fine line. "Dakota got your new work number for this office. He's been calling all morning trying to get in touch with you. The front desk just sent him to my line. They didn't know he was referring to you because he was asking for you by your married name. When he used your maiden name, they patched him through."

I sighed. "Did he say what he wanted?"

"He said he's going to be in New York this weekend. He wants to meet up."

My stomach continued its descent and landed in my feet. Whatever he wanted to talk about wouldn't be good. "Great," I groaned.

"Should I tell him to take a long walk off a short pier?" Kyla asked.

"Tell him I'll message him later," I said. "I'm not hopping on a call with him. I'm certainly not meeting him in person, either."

Kyla nodded. "Okay. I'm going out for lunch with the guys. Did you want to join us?"

I shook my head. "Thank you, but no thanks. I brought lunch with me and need to work."

"Are you sure?"

I smiled. "I'm positive."

Kyla was fitting in much better than I was. I was still feeling like an outsider.

"Can I bring you anything back?"

"No thank you," I said. "Enjoy your lunch."

Kyla and the others left. The office outside my door had gone relatively quiet with everyone clearing out and going to lunch. I turned back to my screen, determined to work. Now I definitely couldn't focus.

Between thinking about Spencer and now Dakota, my brain was scrambled. I stared at the screen without really seeing anything. Dakota was truly one of God's mistakes. I didn't know how to make him understand there was nothing between us. Divorce was always messy, but I had hoped we could be friends or at least friendly. But that didn't seem possible. The more he harassed me, the more impossible that option became.

The air shifted and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was like I felt him before I saw him.

"Have you had a chance to review Joshua's new product lineup?" Spencer asked from the doorway.

I was surprised to see him. I assumed he would have gone to lunch with everyone else. "No. I'm working on it right now."

I wasn't in any mood to receive the scolding he was obviously wanting to give me.

"I thought I asked you to prioritize this," he snapped.

I straightened my shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "And I thought you weren't my damn boss."

"I'm not, but things need to get done."

"Oh really? I had no idea." I rolled my eyes.

He growled. "I don't need your sarcasm."

"Listen, grouchy face, you wanted me here, and I don't need an ogre breathing down my neck." I gestured around at all my stuff. "If you haven't noticed, I was a big deal before you brought me on board, and if you continue to bully me like this, I'm going to walk. Do you hear me?"

I glared daggers at him, refusing to be intimidated. I had been dealing with his shitty attitude for weeks and I had had enough.

Spencer's expression darkened, and I worried I'd just poked the bear.